Henry John William Wilken

WILKEN, GERDAU, LEMKE, GODFREY, WADDELL, WIER, SOSA, LAFRENTZ

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 7/2/2009 at 12:24:39

Henry John William Wilken, age 87 years and 8 months, formerly of Bloomfield, passed away on November 20, 2006 at the Windmill Manor in Coralville, Iowa of congestive heart failure. He was born on March 19, 1919 northeast of Bloomfield. Henry spent his youth in Bloomfield attending school. Mr. Wilken was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. He married Helen Louise Gerdau on May 30, 1939. To this union, three children were born, Donald, Betty and Larry.

Henry and Helen’s love of music and dance was shared through singing in St. Mark’s choir and family gatherings. Mr. Wilken was a member of the NFO, Moose, St. Mark’s and St. James Lutheran Church, Bettendorf, IA where he did custodial work along with construction work. Henry was an avid collector of coins and American eagles.

The Wilken’s farmed in rural Bloomfield most of their early married life. After a short two-year period in Wall Lake, IA, they returned to farm the Wilken Homestead until 1962. Mr. Wilken worked in construction starting with the building of the new St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in 1956. In 1964, Henry and Helen moved to Bettendorf, IA continuing his construction career until his retirement in 1983. On November 20, 2006, he was recognized for 50 years of membership in Laborer’s Union Local 309, receiving his gold union card and gold watch.

Survivor’s include his wife, Helen (Gerdau) Wilken and children, Donald and his wife Joan of Sunrise Beach, MO, Betty of Lincoln, NE, and Larry and his wife Connie of Coralville, IA.; seven grandchildren, Eric and Christy Lemke, Tami and Harry Godfrey, Jennifer and Doug Waddell, Douglas and Michele Wilken, Jason Wilken (wife Larrisa Wier), Derrick Wilken (wife Kristina Sosa) and Phillip Wilken; ten great grandchildren, Brandon and Jordan Godfrey, Makehla, Baylee and Dylan Wilken; Alexandra and Benjamin Lemke, Douglas, Jennifer Cierra and William Waddell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mollie (Lafrentz) Wilken and brother, Raymond and his wife Louise.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Dean Wilken, Duane Wilken, Craig Wilken, Philip Hilfiker, Jerry Newton, Kelly Newton, Mike Newton, Dean Mackeprang, Richard Mackeprang, and Norman Mackeprang. Pallbearers were Eric Lemke, Tami Godfrey, Douglas Wilken, Jennifer Waddell, Jason Wilken, Derrick Wilken, and Phillip Wilken.